SARATOGA SPRINGS >> One of the surprises of the local fall sports season was the turnaround fashioned by the Saratoga Springs football team.

After winning just three games each of the past two years, the Blue Streaks won seven of their first eight before falling to Shaker in the Class AA semifinals. Highlights included a 33-6 pounding of archrival Shenendehowa, a 54-7 payback of Ballston Spa and the program’s first sectional win (48-27 over La Salle) since 2009.

Much of the attention was focused on a dynamic Saratoga offense that featured the running and passing of senior quarterback Jake Eglintine and the running of sophomore Dakota Harvey and senior Jordan Wilcox.

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The Streaks also stepped up their play on the other side of the ball, none more so than Nick Stiansen. For his accomplishments on the field and his part in inspiring (and challenging) his teammates to do better, the senior linebacker has been selected as The Saratogian’s Football Defensive Player of the Year.

“Nick was a huge factor for us, both on and off the field,” Streaks coach Terry Jones said. “He’s a phenomenal leader. Not always through words, although he can be vocal when he needs to be, but more through the example he sets with his intelligence and preparation for games.”

Stiansen was in on a remarkable 101 tackles (more than 11 per game), including 59 solo and seven behind the line of scrimmage. He also caused two fumbles and recovered two others, and was credited with a pair of sacks. As the starting tight end on offense, where he was used primarily as a blocker, he caught two passes for touchdowns.

“Over all, this year was a big success,” Stiansen said. “Just getting to the playoffs and beating Shen made it a success, although it would have been nice to go further. I went into it a little differently because this was my last season, and I wanted my teammates to have a successful year. We played hard every week, and I think we got better as the season went on.”

The most impressive number Stiansen has put up this year, however, may be the 4.0 average he maintains as an advanced-placement student. In addition to his studies and playing two sports — he is also on the varsity basketball team — he has somehow found time to serve as senior class president and play cello in the school orchestra. The Saratoga Springs resident plans to study biomedical engineering in college.

“We preach to the kids about being scholar-athletes, and that the student part comes first,” said Jones. “Nick is the perfect example of what we’re looking for. He’s not just a great football player. He’s a phenomenal young man, and we’re going to have a hard time replacing him.”

Asked to describe Stiansen on the field, Jones said, “He’s very aggressive and very intelligent, and his strength makes him difficult to block. He really improved his quickness this year. His mental preparation gave him an edge as far as knowing where the play was going to go. And once he got a hold of you, you weren’t getting away.”

Stiansen was also instrumental in helping his teammates prepare for the 2013 season. This involved helping to organize — along with other seniors, including Eglintine, Wilcox, Trevor Hallaran, Ben Place and Jack Graver — a weight-lifting program (starting last winter) and encouraging more interest in studying film. As a result, not only were the Blue Streaks in good physical shape come September, they were also on their way to becoming a tighter, more cohesive unit. Both factors were crucial to the team’s success.

“Our seniors wanted to change the mentality of the program,” Stiansen said of the team’s new regimen. “The lifting helped everybody get stronger, and we ended up having fewer injuries this year. We also watched a lot more film. A lot of guys bought into it and that really helped. Knowing what the other team is going to do gives you a big advantage. And everybody bonded. This was the closest team I’ve played on. We stuck together as friends.”

Stiansen is undecided about playing football in college. Whether he does so or not, he leaves Saratoga having set an example for others to follow. Not just next year. And not just in football.